Device for identifying articles



Aug. 6 1929. usco 1,723,011

DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING ARTICLES Original fiiled Dec. 17, 1927 INVEIOR I ATTORNEY Fatented Ang. 5, 192$ UNITED STATES 1,723,011 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IB'U'SCO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF THIRTY-THREE PER CENT TO ED- VIARD M. ALTMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING ARTICLES.

Original application filed December 17, 1927, Serial No. 240,673.

January 20, 1928.

This invention relates to identification means for articles, and is a division of an application filed by me December 17th, 1927, Serial N 0. 240,673, for improvements in methods of and means for selectively grouping and distributing articles.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide means whereby articles of different groups of laundry, or of other classifications, are readily and easily identified as to the particular group with which they belong.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which may be used conveniently and effectively for the purpose indicated, and to provide a device of the character described which is simple and inexpensive in construction; one which may be made from cheap ma terial; is easy to handle; may be applied to articles of laundry readily and easily, and will remain firmly ailixed thereto, yet may be readily and easily removed when properly manipulated; a device which does not mark, puncture, or otherwise damage or deface the article to which it is afiixed, even should be article of laundry with the device afiixed thereto be put through a mangle repeatedly; and to provide a device which has the above characteristics irrespective of the'thickness' of the article of laundry to which it is ap plied.

A further object of this invention is to provide an article group identifier which is especially well suited for use in practicing the System and method described in my said application of which this case is a division.

A further object of my invention is to provide devices of the character described which are capable of being colored, shaped, marked, or otherwise provided with means whereby several of the devices or groups of devices may readily and easily be distinguished from each other; and another object of my invention is to provide simple, effective and dur able means whereby the devices, or groups of the devices, are individually identified and are made to be prominently distinguishable from other devices or groups of devices.

Other objects of this invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings,

Divided and this application filed Serial No. 248,065.

forming a part of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a device embodying my invention, the device being shown partially open, and illustrates how it is first applied to the edge portion of an article to which it is to be affixed; Figure 2 is a view similar to' Figure 1, except that it shows the device clamped on the article; Figure 3 is a top view' of a device provided with device identification means; and Figure 4 is a top View of a device provided with different device identification means.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which serve merelyto present certain possible illustrations of the invention, there is shown therein a member 10 (called a marker in my said copending application) having two walls 11 and 12, joined together at one end, as at 13, this somewhat channel-shaped member being adapted to be applied to the edge portion of a piece 14 of material, such as a piece of laundry or other article, as shown in Fig. l, and then to have the walls of the member pressed against the encompassed material so that the member will grip the same and be aifixed thereto with sufiieient firmness to prevent the member from falling or being pulled olf accidentally or at inopportune times.

Preferably the member 10 is made of a piece of pliable material, such as aluminum, zinc, tin, pliable fibre or other suitable material which will be self-retaining in the shape into which it is bent, so that when pressed into engagement with the article it will so remain. When ready for application to an article, such as an item of laundry, the tree ends of the channel walls are spaced apart a sufficient distance to permit the member to receive the thickest article expected to he encountered, easily and freely, and without catching or wrinkling. The recess at the closed end of the member is also preferably of suificient depth to receive such article, for otherwise the article would tend to make the walls of the channel flare outwardly, after application.

To givev the member a more firm and secure grip on the article, I preferably roughen the inner surfaces of the channel walls, as by making dents 15 therein, as shown, or by other means. However, it is advisable not to have any sharpor formations which might cut, tear, or puncture the article to which the member is aiiixed. i-iccordingly, the dents do not puncture the walls, but present rounded apexes.

Preferably one of the walls, such as 12, is made longer than the other wall, so that a person may more easily insert the end of a finger or thumb between the end of this wall and the cloth, and open the member to release rip on the cloth and to remove it therefrom.

My invention also contemplates providing these members, or laundry markers, vith identificationmeans whereby one marker, or one group of markers,is prominently distinguished from other markers, or other groups of markers, differently identified. To this end different markers, or different groups of markers, may be differently colored, differentlyshaped, differently numbered, lettered or otherwise marked. For instance, as shown in the drawings, the marker is indicated by thevertical scoring to be red in Figure 3, and by horizontal scoring to be blue in Figure l; thetop wall 16 of the marker in Figure 3 is of somewhat circular shape, while the top wall 17 of the markerin Figure 4; is of a different shape; and in Figure 3 the marker is also identified by the numeral 1 marked thereon, as at 18, while in Figure 4 the upper wall 1? of the marker is shaped to form the numeral 2. Of course, an number of colors, shapes, numbers, letters, or other identification ins signia, may be employed.

As aforestated, the marker is' applied to an article by placing it thereon, and then squeezing the walls againstthe article, as shown in Figure 2. With laundry, the operator need merely-give the walls a preliminary squeeze, and the mangle will clamp the marker more tightly on the cloth as it, with the marker thereon, passes therethrough. he marker may be open to any degree, or be closed prior to application, since, if closed, the operator can open the marker for application to the article, and can close the marker'upon the article irrespective of how far it is open, The marker may be supplied in wide open, flat condition to the afiixer, if desired.

The utility of markers constructed and identified. in accordance withthis invention is clearly and fully brought out in my said prior application, wherein is disclosed the use of differently identified groups of markers of the character described above, wlth different groups of articles of laundry,

to avoid loss and confusion of the articles in the laundry,'and to enable lost articles to be traced and to be restored to the rightful owners, with the result that the laundry may be operated at a greater output capacity and with an attendant reduction in expense resulting from the loss or confusion of customers articles.

It will be apparent a member or marker made in accordance with my invention is very inexpensive device, is easy to handle and to manipulate, does not damage the article to which it is attached, identifies the article to which it is attached prominently and positively, and holds on to the article with a firm grip, yet may be easily removed at the proper time.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and as many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mat ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is 1. A laundry marker of pliable nonresilient metal adapted to readily pass through an ironing mangle along with fabric operated upon without injury to the mangle and the fabric, the marker having grip portions adapted to lie on opposite sides'of the edge portion of the fabric, each of said portions having a plurality of inwardly directed, rounded, nonfabric piercing indentations adapted to firmly grip the fabric and disposed inirregular out of line relationship so as to prevent sliding of the marker in any direction thereon.

2. A laundry marker of pliable nonresilient metal adapted to readily pass through an ironing mangle along with fabric operated upon without injury to the mangle and the fabric, the marker having grip portions adapted to lie on opposite sides of the edge portion of the fabric, said portions having a plurality of inwardly directed, rounded, nonfabric piercing indentations adaptedto firmly grip the fabric and prevent the marker from sliding off therefrom when said portions are pressed into engagement therewith, and identification means on said marker whereby it is dis inguished from the other markers having 'difi'erent identifications.

This specification signed this 18th day of January, 1928.

JOHN BUSOO.

from the above that 

